Make Your Own Miniature Wind Turbine

Wind power is one of the fastest-growing energy sources in the world. With this quick project by Michael Arquin of the KidWind Project, young engineers can build a working turbine in just a couple of hours.

Make Your Own Miniature Wind Turbine

Make Your Own Miniature Wind Turbine

Renewable energy is the wind beneath our turbine blades. Over the past few years, wind power has been among the fastest growing sources of energy in the world. Learn how to capture the airstream's gusting force with this rugged PVC turbine design by Michael Arquin, founder of the KidWind Project. This exploratory project teaches engineering and modeling and—to make it age- and skill-appropriate—can be scaled up or down in complexity to create more or less electricity, as well as to demonstrate concepts such as energy transformation and blade efficiencies. Get ready to be blown away.

Build the Rotor & Nacelle

Build the Rotor & Nacelle

1. Insert the 2-inch piece of PVC pipe into a 90-degree fitting.2. Slide the PVC coupler over the 2-inch pipe, forming one solid piece called the nacelle.3. Wrap a 1/2-inch-wide by 18-inch-long piece of duct tape around the perimeter of the motor. This will help it fit securely into the coupler.4. Thread the wires attached to the DC motor into the mouth of the coupler, all the way through the 90-degree PVC fitting.5. The motor should rest snugly in the coupler but not be pushed all the way in.6. Next, attach the crimping hub to the motor by pressing it onto the driveshaft.7. Make sure the face of the motor is flush with the edge of the pipe.